Target-practice aiming-machine.



G. MONROE.

TARGET PRACTICE AIMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1909.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Axunzw. a. GRAHAM 00.. Pnovoumocwwuins. wAsmmmN n c G. MONROE.

TARGET PRAGTIGE AIMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1909.

938,327. Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

2 SHEETS -SHEET 2.

CHARLOTTE MONROE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TARGET-PRACTICE AIMING-MAGI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

Application filed May 13, 1909. Serial No. 495,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLOTTE MONROE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Practice Aiming-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in target practice aiming machines and the object of my invention is to produce a simple device of this character which is composed of a small number of parts, which cannot get out of adjustment, which is cheap, compact, light, and easily transported, and which will accurately indicate the correct ness of the users aim.

With this object in view, my invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device. Fig. 2 is a front view of the target. Fig. 3 is a side view of the mechanism for operating the pointer. Fig. 4 is a side view of the stand supporting the target. Fig. 5 is a partial top plan view showing the operating gears for the pointer. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the stand and target supported thereby.

1 represents a bracket adapted to be attached to a wall or any suitable support and this bracket and the target supporting means may be provided with spirit levels, if desired. This bracket may be secured at a height to correspond with the standing, kneeling, or prone positions of marksmen.

3 represents a flat plate or table attached by hinges 2 to a part 30 which is adapted to swing around on the top of the bracket 1, being journaled on a reduced portion of the post 19. This plate is provided with a dovetailed slot 4, in which slot is mounted the end 5 of the target frame 6, to which a paper target 7, or any desired form of target, may be secured. The plate or table 3 may be adjusted up or down by means of a screw 8 and a bracket 9 carried by the main bracket 1. To the part 5 is attached a core 10 of a solenoid 11, and thus the usual spring returns the target into the position shown in I the bracket 1.

Fig. 1, if the solenoid is not in operation. The solenoid is connected to a storage or other battery 12, the terminal wires 13 of which are adapted to be secured to the trigger guard of the rifle or revolver used, so

that pulling the trigger will close the circuit, thus actuating the solenoid.

14 represents a steel pointer having the end nearest the target sharp and the other end, as shown at 15, enlarged to form a counterbalanced weight. This pointer is mounted on a shaft 17 secured between ears 18 of a rotatable post 19, so that said pointer may move freely up and down between the cars 18.

20 represents a clip into which a rifle 21, or a revolver, is adapted to be placed, being fastened therein when the operator is practicing aiming, by means of the screw 22. This clip has attached to it a universal joint 23, which is attached to a rod 24, and which rod is attached by a universal joint to the shaft 17.

rection will impart a corresponding movement to the pointer 14.

The post 19 passes through a hole in the supporting bracket 1 and is freely revoluble thereon.

'and is provided with a worm gear 27, which The end of the part is rounded meshes with a Worm 28, having an operating hand wheel 29, this worm being ournaled in suitable bearings such as 31, on the top of The post 19 and therefore the pointer .14 may be caused to revolve in -a horizontal direction, by the motion of the rifle or revolver, by means of the following connections: 32 represents a gear wheel secured to the lower, part of the post 19, which meshes with a gear wheel 33 on a shaft 34, supported underneath the top of the bracket 1 by any suitable means (not shown), as by a shoulder on said shaft.

The shaft 34 is connected by means of a universal joint 35 with the rod 36, which in turn is connected by a universal joint 37 with the rod 38, the rod 38 being in turn connected by a universal joint 39 with the rod 40. This rod 40 is connected by a universal joint 41 to a rod 42, which is con- Usually I provide another uni-V versal joint 26 at about the center of the rod 24, but this is not strictly necessary. It is essential, however, that there should be no lost motion.

out the expenditure of ammunition.

nected by a universal joint 43 to a pin or rod 44;, fastened to the clamp or clip 20, as many of these rods and universal joints being used as desired to communicate the motion in a curved path from the clamp 20 to the gear wheel 33. Obviously by the connections thus described, the movement in a horizontal plane of the gun or revolver will cause a corresponding movement in a horizontal plane of the pointer 14. By the con nections described, therefore, any movement of the gun or revolver, whether in a horizontal or vertical plane or in any combinations thereof, will be transmitted exactly to the pointer 14.

The operation is as follows: A gun or revolver is placed in the clamp 20 and the setscreW 22 tightened. The rifle or revolver is then aimed at a mark close at hand and the trigger pulled, whereupon the solenoid pulls the target up against the pointer 14, piercing the target. The target-carrying means is then adjusted so that the pointer 14 will be opposite the center of the bulls 25' eye, and the apparatus is then ready for use for sighting at a mark.

By my invention a person may be taught how to aim and shoot rifles or revolvers withy clamping any rifle or revolver in the apparatus the person practicing may learn not only how to shoot, but also how to shoot his own rifle or revolver, becoming familiar during K the practice with the trigger pull and feel of his own weapon. In practice every time the trigger is pulled, the target is pierced by the pointer, showing the marksman just how accurate his aim was at the moment of V, pulling the trigger. This is a very impor- 4'0" tant feature, because many persons aim correctly but grow nervous at the moment of pulling the trigger and pull off, as it is often termed, destroying the accuracy of their aim. 45'

The construction is simple and durable. The adjustments are easily made, only two being necessary to bring the pointer into line with the center of the bulls eye. It is H not intended to produce absolutely parallel i be used, provided that no lost motion occurs.

Any desirable form of gearing may also be used, provided there is no lost motion. The miniature target may be of any desired type.

I claim:

1.. In a target practice aiming machine, the combination of' a pointer, a movable target, means for moving said target against said pointer, a clamp for holding a rifle or revolver, and means whereby the movement of the rifle or revolver in said clamp will produce a corresponding movement of the pointer, consisting of universal joint connections for moving the pointer in a vertical plane, a support in which said pointer is journaled, and gearing and universal connections from said clamp to said support for revolving the latter in a horizontal plane, substantially as described.

2. In a target practice aiming machine, the combination of a supporting bracket, a target, means for supporting said target, means for adjusting said target-supporting means both horizontally and vertically, a pivotally mounted counterbalanced pointer,

a movable post supporting said pointer,

a clamp into which a rifle or revolver is adapted to be placed, universal connections between said clamp and said pointer, where- 'by motion in a vertical plane of said clamp will be transmitted to said pointer, gearing for rotating said post, and universal connections between said clamp and said gearing,

@whereby a horizontal movement of said clamp will rotate said post, and means for bringing said target against said pointer,

substantially as described.

3. In a target practice aiming machine, the combination of a supporting bracket, a flat plate composed of two parts hinged together, carried by said bracket, a worm and -worm gearing for ad usting said plate in a horizontal direction, a screw for adjusting one end of said plate vertically, a target movably supported by said plate, a pivotally which said post is operated, and a solenoid for bringing said target into contact with said pointer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLOTTE MONROE. Witnesses:

F. K. PARKS, H. S. PALMER. 

